In case you have been living under a rock, or on another planet, relations between the countries of the East (particularly Russia) and those in the West (particularly USA, though Ukraine may disagree) have recently become increasingly “frosty”.
Hopefully neither of the mentioned will start hurling large amounts of destructive force at each other, as this could render things like cyber security obsolete; but in the meantime, let’s focus on what we can actually control.
The White House has issued a warning that Russia is most likely preparing cyber weapons for use against the USA: Joe Biden states, “It's part of Russia's playbook…”. I am not writing this in the USA, but rather in the UK. Nonetheless, I have a strong suspicion that cyber campaigns against the USA will include its allies, which pretty much means Europe and anywhere else where English is the first language.
Assuming you want to be a responsible member of your organisation, you should view this as a very real warning of increased cyber threats which pose significant risks. A couple of things to keep in mind are that just because Russia has been careful so far to not let the cyber-attacks spread too far, does not mean that it will necessarily remain that way. Another frightening thought is that your cyber insurance may not cover you for these types of attacks.
Now that we have looked at the problem, let’s look for some solutions... The first thing to remember is that if you are not a cyber security specialist then you most likely do not fully understand how cyber attacks work and how to effectively defend against them. Reading a few articles and having experience of installing anti-virus software at home does not qualify you as an expert, and an expert is exactly what you require right now. Investing a little money now to get the guidance and assistance you require could save you a lot later on!
When you consult with a local cyber security expert, you can expect some software solutions, possibly some hardware, some changes in work practices, and, of course, employee training. Without training, then members of your staff would not be able to detect scams that trick them into giving up their login credentials to your network and systems. The importance of this cannot be overstated; suffice it to say that there is a reason why insurance companies are increasingly requiring this of their clients.
Where do you begin? Please contact us and we will put you in touch with a local expert.
